Deep well turbine pump having separate means for carrying hydrostatic loads



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. WINTROATH Filed July 26, 1926 FOR CARRYING HYDROSTATIC LOADS I I I I DEEP WELL TURBINE PUMP HAVING SEPARATE MEANS gill/ Feb. 9, 1932.

fA/T/EMOE;

I JOHN A. VV/NTPO/ITH,

WX fl l 1932. J. A. WINTROATH DEEP WELL TURBINE PUMP HAVING SEPARATE BANS FOR CARRYING HYDROSTATIC LOADS M. W H i Il r - WW W w M w w A Jar/N A E 3 v 5 e590 26340.5 7/7425 4 W38067 5 .5 556 fill/5 5 7253 .2 ./Z-2 435 m m \b m w 1 L; Zr c m K m a r M o WI: 7/ 0? 0M0 H m a. \i\ 5| Y q E R a. L. 1 a m x a a Q w a a Q M DEEP Wltll l' TURBINE BUM? HAVING EaEPAEATE .4

Patented Feb., 9, 1932" PATENT orrlcs JOHN A. WIN'IROATE, 01' L05 ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGHDR 0f ONE-BALI '1 EDWARD M. SMITH, 0F IDS ANGIEEES, CALIFORNIA, ONE-HALF TO WIHTBOLTH PUMPS, LTD., 013* ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA,- A CORPORATION OF GALIFQBNIA WIT, G 11" .llpplicatien riled July 526, i926. heidel lilo. innate.

This invention. has to do with a turbine puniip which is designed for use in very deep wel Turbine pumps ol th e ordinary construction consist of a pump unit which is located near the bottom of a well and. which is secured to a column or discharge pipe which extends to the surface. of the ground. lhe pum unit comprises a number of pump bowls which ,provide runner chambers in which runners are situated. The runners are secured to a pump shalt which extends from the pump unit to the surface of the ground through the column pipe, the pump shalt being attached toa pump head by means oil which it and the runners are rotated in such a manner as to pump liquid to the surface of the ground. v

These pumps have been confined to use more or less on shallow wells while reciproeating pumps have been used on deep wells, which in the oil well industry are as deep as three or four thousand feet.

Probably the chief reason why the ordinary turbine pump cannot be used in deep wells is that dificulties arise by reason of the stretch in the pump shaft which extends from the pump unit to the pump head. The runners which revolve in the runner chamhers formed by the pump bowls must be placed centrally in the runner chambers so that they will notenga e either the upperol the lower walls thereo ln shallow pumps of a few hundred feet or so the stretch of the pump shaft is quite smalland no difliculty is experienced. In deep wells, however, the

4 stretch of the pump shaft would be considerable and the runners would not be proper- 1y positioned in the runner chambers. For example, in a deep well of say three' thousand feet the stretch of the pump shaft, due to its own weight, would be about twelve or fourteen inches. Since the lower end of the pump shaft cannot move downwardly because ofthe runners there is a slack therein, and consequently the shaft is partially supported by the runners at the lower end thereof, Whereas the pump shaft should be wholly supported at its upper end so that the runners can be centrally placed in their respective runner chambers.

it is an object of my invention to rovide a deep well turbine pump in which t e run ners may be correctly positioned in the runner chambers regardless of the depth of the pump. l A further object of my invention is to provide a deep well turbine pump in which the runners are supported by means wholly separate from the means supporting the pump shaft in my invention I employ whatl term a runnershatt which extends only through'the pump unitand to which the. runners are rigidly secured. 'lhe runner shaft is supported by means of a thrust bearing which is preferably placed at the lower end thereof. Eutending from the upper end of the runner shaft to the surlaoe ot'the ground is the pump shaft which is supported by a hearing at the upper end of the well. The pump shaft and the runner shalt aredrivably connected together, but the connection permits a relative vertical movement between these two parts. lifter the pump has been installed in the well, the upper end of the pump shalt ma be moved upwardly so that the slack will therefrom and so that it will be supported wholly by the bearing atthe upper end of the well; lit is essential that the one making the adjustments know when all the slack is removed from the pump shaft and when it is supported wholly at its upper end. 7

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a deep well turbine pump having means for determining when the pump shaft is supported entirely from its upper end.

Still another object of this invention lies in a novel manipulative methodof assembling and adjusting a turbine pump.

removed 7 Still other objects of my invention lie in the V particular details of construction whether orillustrate a preferred form-of my invention,

chambers 24.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the upper end of the pump of my invention.

ig. 2 is a vertical section through the lower end of the pump of my invention, this view showing the parts in correct operating position.

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in position previous to adjusting them into operating position.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Flg. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

The form of my invention shown in the drawings consists of a pump unit 11 (Figs.

2 and 3) which is situated at the lower end of a column pipe 12 inside a well casing 13. The pump unit 11 consists of an upper section 15 and a lower section 16, between which pum bowls 17 are located. These sections and owls are secured together as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The pump unit 11 is secured to the lower end of the column pipe 12 by means of a screw joint as indicated at 18. The upper end of the column pipe 12 is secured to a sub-flange 19 which supports a body 20 of a pump head, this pump ead being situated at the surface of the ground.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 the upper section 15 has passages 22 formed therethrough, the upper ends of which connectto the interior of the column pipe 12. The pump bowls 17 have passages 23, the lower ends of which.connect to the runner chambers 24 formed near the lower parts of each bowl 17. The u per ends of the passages 23 of the upper bowl 17 connect to the lower ends of the passages 22 of the upper section 15 and the upper ends of the passages 23 of the other pum bowl 17 connect to the runner e lowermost runner chamber 24 is connected by, a mouth 25 to-a space 26 of the bottom member 16. This space 26 is provided by an annular wall 28 having perforations 29 therein. Surrounding the bottom member 16 and extending downwardly therefrom is a screen pipe 30. Oil to ass into the pump unit 11 must pass throug the screen pipe 30 throu" h the perforations in the wall 28 and may t en pass into the lower runner chamber 24.

Situated in each runner chamber 24 is a through. The upper and lower ends. of the passages 33 connect with the passages 23 of adjacent pum bowls 17 Extending t rough the pum unit 11 is a runner shaft 36 which is rotata 1 supported runners 32 are rigi by the bearings of the upper an lower'sec-.

tions 15 and 16 and the ump bowl 17, such as illustrated clearlly in igs. 2 and 3. The

ly secured on the runner shaft 36 by keys 37. The lower end of the bottom member 16 is provided in theform of a bearing chamber 38 into which the lower end of the runner shaft 36 extends. The lower end of the runner shaft 36 is reduced as indicated at 40 so as to provide an annular shoulder 41 which is engaged by a thrust late 42. A spacer ring 43 is attached to the ower part of the thrust plate 42 by pins 44. The lower part of the spacer ring 43 engages an upper race of a runner shaft supporting bearing 46 which is supported by a radial wall 47 formed at the lower end of the bearing chamber 38. This bearing 46 supports the weight of the runner shaft 36 and the runners 32, and it also takes the hydraulic thrust imposed on the runners, as will be hereinafter described, while the pump is in operation.

A main bearing 50 is threadedly secured at 51 to the upper end of a hub 52 of the upper section 15. This main bearing 50 surrounds the upper end of the runner shaft 36 and provides a journal therefor. A tube 53 is threadedly secured at 54 to the main bearing 50. The upper end of the tube 53 has a collar 55 secured thereto which surrounds the lower end of a pump shaft 56 which extends downwardly into the interior of the tube 53, the collar 55 forming a bearing for this pump shaft 56. The upper end of the runner shaft 36 is provided with grooves 58, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 5. Threadedly secured at 59 to the lower end of the pump shaft 56 is a coupling member 60. This coupling member 60 is provided with a cavity 61 into which the upper end of the runner shaft 36 may extend. The coupling member 60 is provided with splines 63 which extend into the cavity 61' and the inner parts thereof are adapted to rest in the grooves 58 formed in the upper end of the runner shaft 36. This construction provides a driving connection between the runner shaft 36 and the pump shaft 56, but permits relative vertical movement therebetween. The pump shaft 56 extends upwardly through the column pipe 12 to the surface of the ground. The extreme upper end thereof projects through a stuffing box 65 and terminatesat a point directly above the body 20 of the pump head. A flanged member 66 of a flexible coupling 67 is threadedly secured at 68 to the upper end of the pump shaft 56 as illustrated in Fig. 1. Surrounding the upper end'of the pump shaft 56 is a pump shaft thrust bearing 69, the upper race 70 of which .is engaged by a lower face 71 of the flanged member 66. A lower race 72 of the bearing 69 is supported by a diaphragm 73 which is extended across the upper end of a box 74 of a weighin device 75. The diaphragm 73 is secured in place by securing rings 76 and 77. The box 74 provides a closed annular chamber 7 9 in which a non-compressible fluid is placed.

A gauge 80 for the purpose of indicating the pressure of the non-compressible fluid is connected to the closed chamber 79 by means of a pipe 81.

It is apparent from Fig. 1 that the thrust pump shaft 56 is driven b a motor 83 which is supported above'the b y by means of a lit frame 84. A motor shaft 85 of the motor 83 extends downwardly to a point above the upper end of the pump shaft 56 and is provided with a flan e member 86 which forms a part of the exible coupling 67. lhe flanged members 66 and 86 are drivably connected together in any well known manner so that the motor shaft 85 is drivably connected to the pump shaft 56.

in Figs. l and 2, l illustrate the parts of the pump in the positions which'they will occupy when the pump is adjusted for operation. in Fig. 3 I represent the positions of the parts before they have been adjusted. the 1previously explained, in extremely deep wel s the stretch in the pump shaft is con siderable and this shaft will have a great amount of slack therein. When all the parts have been installed with the exception of the motor 83 and the upper flanged member 86,

there will be a stretch. in the pump shaft 56 and the lower end oi the coupling member 69 will be in engagement'with the upper end of the main bearing 50. It will be recognized that tor this reason the pump shalt will not be entirely supported from the pump shaft thrust bearing 69 but it will be partially supported at its lower end by the main hearing 50. Before the pump can beset into operation this slack must be removed and the removal of the slack is accomplished in the lollowing manner:

The flanged member 66 is turned relatively to the pump shaft 56 so that the upper end of the pump shaft 56 will be advanced upwardly. As the pump shaft 56 is pulled upwardly, more of the weight thereof will be carried by the bearing 69. @onsequently the lid ' disengxa non-compressible fluid in the chamber 79 will have a greater pressure exerted thereon which will be indicated by the gauge 80. The pressure indicated by the gauge :80 will increase until all of the weight is carried by the hearing 63, that is to say, it will increase until the coupling member 60 disengages from the bearing 56. When this movement has been efillected, all of the weight of the pump shalt 56 will be carried by the bearing 69, and therefore any upward movement of the pump shalt thereafter will not place any additional weight on the bearing 69 or any additional pressure on the non-compressible fluid in the chamber 7 9. The person melting the adjustments will therefore watch the gauge 80 and will lift the pump shaft as long as the pressure increases thereon, When the pump shaft is raised to the extent that gement of-the couplin e main bearing has n brought to pass, the gauge pressure will not increase and the operator willbe informed that the and t bearin My lnventlon also provides a means. for.

member pum shaft is wholl su orted at its up er end It is desirabl h b vever, to lift like pump shaft an inch or two farther than this so that there will be plenty of clearance between the coupling member 60 and the main preventing the pump shaft from being moved too'high so that there would ban disconnection between the pump shaft and the runner shaft. Referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that it the pump shaft is lifted above a certain point the upper face of the coupling member 60 will engage the lower face of the collar 55, This will prevent an upward movement of the lower end oi the pump shaft 56 and obviously a sudden increase oil pressure will be placed on the noncompressible fluid in the chamber 79 vwhich will be indicated by the gauge 80. This sudden increase in ressure as indicated by the gauge 80 will in orm the operator that the couplin member 60 has moved into engagement with the collar 55 and he may then lower the pump shaft to position the coupling member 60 in a proper place.

From the foregoing descri tion it will be seen that my invention difl ers materially from the ordinary turbine pump inasmuch as T provide two shafts, that is, the runner shaft 36 and the pump shaft 56., which are drivably connected together in place of providing a unitary pump shaft according to standard practice. 56 is supported by the runner shalt thrust bearing t6 which is entirely separated from the pump shalt thrust bearing 63. After the pump has been adjusted, as just described, the motor 83 is energized and the pump is set into operation. As the pump accelerates to full speed. hydraulic thrust is imposed on the runners 32 which exerts a down ressure thereon. By reasonoll the fact that the bean ing 46 is so close to the runners 32 there will be no give in the runner shaft 36 and therefore the runners 32 will not move from central position in the runner chambers 24; therefore, there will be no engage- 'Il'lBIli) of the runners as would be present in the ordinary form of turbine pump which would be supported from the upper end of the pump shaft. The bearing l6 operates in a bath of lubricating oil which is placed in the bearing chamber 36. It should also be noted that the chamber 38 is in such a posi- Also the runner shaft but l t-h said runner shaft to the upper end of said well; means for supporting said pump shaft; means for rotating said pump shaft; means for drivably connecting said pump shaft and said runner shaft together, said pump shaft being movable in a vertical direction relative to said runner shaft; means for moving said pump shaft in a vertical direction in order that it can be supported by said means for supporting said pump shaft; and means for determining when said pump shaft has been lifted sufficiently for same to be sup ported by said means for supporting said pump shaft.

2. A turbine um comprising: a pump unit adapted to e p aced in a well; means for supporting said pump unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a runner shaft having said runner secured thereto; a bearing situated adjacent to the lower end of said runner shaft for supporting said runnershaft; a ump shaft extending from said runner sha t to the upper end of said well; means for supporting said pump shaft; means for rotating said pump shaft;

means for drivably connecting said pump shaft and said runner shaft together, said pump shaft being movable in a vertical direction relative to said runner shaft; means for moving said pump shaft in a vertical direction in order that it can be supported by said means for supporting said pum shaft; and means for determining when sai pump shaft has been lifted sufficiently for same to be supported by said means for supporting said pump shaft.

3. A turbine comprising: a pump unit adapted to p aced in a well; means for supporting said pump unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a runner shaft having said runner secured thereto; a bearing situated adjacent to the lower end of said runner shaft for supporting said runner shaft; 9. ump shaft extending from said runner she to the upper end of said well; means for supporting said pump shaft; means for rotating said pum shaft; means for drivably connecting sai pump shaft and said runner shaft together, said pump shaft being movable in a vertical direction relative to said runner shaft; means for.

' moving said pump shaft in a vertical direction in order that it can be supported by said means for supporting said pump shaft; and a weighing device for determinin when said pump shaft has been lifted su ciently for same to be supported by said means for supporting said pump shaft.

4; A turbine ump comprising: a pump unit adapted to e placed in a well; means for supporting said pump unit; a runner situv ated. in a runner chamber of said pump unit;

a runner shaft having said runner secured thereto; means for supporting said runner shaft a pump shaft extending rom said runner shaft to the up or end of said well; means for supporting said pump shaft; means for rotating said pump shaft; means for drivably connecting said pump shaft and said runner shaft together, said pump shaft being movable in a vertical direction relative to said runner shaft; means for moving said pump shaft in a vertical direction in order that it can be supported by said means for supporting said pump shaft; means for determining when said pump shaft has been lifted sufficiently for same to be supported by said means for supporting said pump shaft; and means engageable with said means for drivably connectin said shafts for preventing said pump s aft from being lifted enough to disconnect it from said runner shaft. I Q

5. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be placed in a Well; means for supporting said pump unit; a runner situate in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a runner shaft having said runner secured thereto; a bearing situated adjacent to the lower end of said runner shaft for supporting said runner shaft; a pump shaft extending from said runner shaft to the upper end of said well; means for supporting said pump shaft; means for rotatin said pump shaft; connecting means for rivably connecting said pump shaft and said runner shaft together, said pump shaft being movable in a vertical direction relative to said runner shaft; means for moving said. pump shaft in a vertical direction in order that it can be supported by. said means for supporting said pump shaft; means for. determinin when said pump shaft has been lifted su ciently for same to be supported by said means for supporting said pump shaft; and a collar above said connecting means for preventing said pump shaft from being lifted enough to disconnect it from said runner shaft.

6. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a runner shaft having said runner secured thereto; a bearing adapted to support said'runner shaft, said bearing being adapted to take the hydraulic thrust of said runner; a pump shaft axially slidablerelative to said runner shaft, said pum shaft driving said runner shaft; an upper bearing on said pump shaft for carrying the weight thereof' means for raising said pump shaft until sald upper bearing supports the weight of said pump shaft; and means for indicatin when no axial thrust is present between sai pump shaft and said runner shaft.

7. A turbine pump comprising: a pump .unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a runner shaft having said runner secured thereto; a bearing adapted to support said runner shaft, said bearing being adapted to take the hydraulic thrust of said runner; a pump shaft axially slidable relative to said runner shaft, said pump shaft driving said runner shaft; an upper bearing on said pump shaft for carrying the weight thereofmeans'for raising said pump shaft 5 until said upper bearing supports the weight of said pump shaft; and a weighing device for indicating when said pump shaft is completely'supported'by said upper bearing.

8. n a turbinepump, the combination of: a pump unit situated in a well; a pump shaft extending into said well and'restlng against a portion of said pump unit when said pump unit has been first installed; means for raising the upper end of said shaft; and means for determining when the stretch is out of said shaft and the lower end thereof rises from contact with said portion of'said pump unit.

9. In a turbine pump, the combination of: a pump unit situated in a well; a pump shaft extending into said well; a member secured to the lower end of said pump shaft, said member being axially movable a predetermined maximum distance but normally resting on a portion of said pump unit when said pump unithas been first installed; means for raising the upper end of said shaft; and means operable when said pump shaft is statio'nary for determining when said member is raised from its resting position.

10. In a turbine pump, the combination of: a pump unit situated in a well; a pump shaft extending into said well; a member secured to the'lower end of said pump shaft, said member being axially movable a predeter I mined maximum distance but normally rest-- ing on a portion of said pump unit; means for raising the upper end of said shaft; and a weighing device for determining when said 40 member is raised from its resting position 11. In a turbine pump, the combination of: a pump unit situated in a well; a pump shaft extending into said well; a member secured to the lower end of said pum'p shaft, said member being axially movable a predetermined maximum distance butnormally restbearing successively increases while the slack is being removed from said pump shaft; and means for indicating the amount of pressure on'the fluid supportin said diaphragm to indicate the successive y increasing weight supported by said upper bearing durin the time that the stretch is being removed rom said pump shaft, said means showing no increaslng weight when said pump shaft is drawn upward after the slack has been removed therefrom.

13. A method of assembling and adjusting a turbine pump having a runner shaft and a line shaft operatively connected together but axially movable relative to each other, said runner shaft being supported independently of said line shaft, which method includes the use of a weighin means supporting said line shaft and inclu es the following steps: aseertaining the weight of said line shaft low erin the pump into a well; drawing upward on t e upper end of the line shaft whereby said weighing means indicates the weight of that ortion of the line shaft sup orted there y; and noting the reading 0 said weighing means to determine when the weight of said line shaft is entirely supported thereb 14. 1 i1 a turbine pump, the combination of: a pump unit supported in a well; arelatively long shaft extending into said well to operate said pump unit; means for moving upward on the upper end of said shaft, no u ward movement of the lower end thereof ta ingplace until the stretch is out of said shaft; and means at the top of said well for indicating when the lowerend of said shaft moves upward thus indicating that the stretch has been removed from said shaft! In testimony whereof, I have hereunto-set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 15th day of July, 1926. c

JOHN A. WINTROATH.

ing on a portion of said pump unit; means for raising the upper end of said shaft; and hydraulic means operable when said pump shaft is stationary for determining when said member is raised from its resting position.

12. A turbine pump, comprising: a pump unit; a runner in said pump unit; a runner shaft having said runner secured thereto; means for supporting said runner shaft; a pump shaft axially movable relative to said runner shaft and being operatively connected thereto, said pump shaft being supported at its lower end during the installation of said pump; an upper bearing for said pump shaft; a fluid-supported diaphragm supporting said upper bearing; m'eansfor drawing upward on said shaft relative to said bearing whereby the weight supported by said upper 

